In Japan, the music of Kitaro is well known. The synthesizer player, who goes by one name, lives at the foot of Mt. Fuji and makes beautifully flowing instrumental music that reflects the cultures and sounds of Japan, India, China and Europe; he frequently draws audiences of 50,000 throughout Asia. Now Geffen Records is attempting to introduce the synth player to Western audiences via six albums of ambient instrumental music which are being released simultaneously by an arrangement with Kitaro`s own record label, Shizen.

Shizen is the Japanese word for nature, which plays a large part in Kitaro`s cosmic approach. A self-taught musician who was introduced to the synthesizer in 1972 by Klaus Schulze of the electronic group Tangerine Dream, Kitaro was clearly influenced by Tangerine Dream`s melodic, symphonic sound. But he also draws on folk influences; the sounds of ancient stringed instruments figure in the music along with the sounds of nature. The overall feel is one of gentle ebb and flow.

While the material varies slightly on each album, Kitaro`s overall approach and basic sound remains constant. If you like any of his music, you are apt to like it all--which is, perhaps, why Geffen released all of these albums at once.